Monday, May 30, 2011

I've been sooo excited about this day! Even before we launched our blog! The idea of hosting a weekly challenge was all too thrilling for me! and now it's finally here!

We are blessed to have Jessica Bashaw (Jessica's Crop Corner - our Featured Artist from last Friday) making our challenge SVG collection for us. She took the theme of our blog "The Paper Dolls" and made paper dolls SVG with them! It's super cute - there's a girl and a boy with various hairstyles and clothing options. There's even a paper doll banner and "I love Paper Dolls" caption! We fell in love when Tamara and I saw it, and I hope you do, too!

So, Tamara and I, along with two other guest designers have taken this fabulous collection to each make something to inspire you today. I'm assuming that you're coming from the Paper Dolls Blog, so you've seen each project, but it not, click here.

For my project - I was at Michaels the other day (the usual thing) wandering around looking for inspiration and all the cool new things that are out on the market. Then, I came across this display of gorgeous celebration ribbons with rosettes, streamers, sentiments and embellishments to make your own customized one for your special day. Hey, I've got lots of ribbons! I have rosettes SVG files! I should just make one! I was inspired, and here we are today - I'm sharing you my Birthday Ribbons!

For the rosettes, I took the rosettes 12 from the Threaded Rosettes SVG collection from Lettering Delights. These rosettes are super easy to make - just cut them out and glue the ends together. I actually didn't thread them, I just pressed the middle down (makes a super nice looking rosette already!) and I just used the cut out circles to hold down the rosettes from the back.

Then came the fun part - I cut out other files, added in random looped ribbons behind the star shaped cut out, and made a celebration ribbon out of it! I finally got to cut out these super cute paper dolls - dressed them up and put on a birthday hat on them! Okay, I cheated here - there is no file for the hat, I just winged it, and cut out a triangle from a scrap piece and it worked great! If only I can cut any other stuff, I wouldn't need a Cricut! LOL! I tied the girls hair with pink twine (so cute!) I also wanted to have a sentiment on the ribbon and the simplest would be "birthday boy/girl". No, I don't have a stamp for this, I just printed them on the printer and backed it with a matching paper :) I also cut out cupcakes and embossed it with swirls folder to make it look yummy!

The fun part of this was actually getting my kiddies to model for me! LOL! They were excited to wear this (only for a minute!), so I had to get pics SUPER QUICK!

If anyone is interested in making this, here is the exact files and sizes I used:

I used the flower-20 and broke them apart. I cut the outside scalloped circle into 2.25" and 2.75" wide, and then I took the star-burst shape inside and cut that to 3.00" wide.Jessica's Paper Doll Challenge Freebie SVG Collection (can download at the Paper Dolls Blog)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

It just seems like the last three weeks of my life has been crazy busy! I guess it's a good thing - my parents were in Japan for the past 3 1/2 weeks and I would normally terribly miss them, but this time, I didn't even have time to think about that! It started off by my decision to resign from SVG Cuts DT, and if that wasn't big enough - just 2 days later, Tamara and I decided to embark on this whole new adventure, Paper Dolls. I basically had 2 days of downtime, before everything picked up again! LOL! Not much of a downtime, I'd say... with the 2 days "off" that I had, I had to create my hubby's Women's Cancer for the Cure Walk Fundraising Dinner tickets and advertisements, and had a request from my hubby to make baby cards. Literally, there were 5-6 babies that were born in the last little while and we had the gifts, but no cards to go with it. So, trying to think of easy way out, I decided to try out a LD file!

Wow - that felt strange. I mean, I'm so used to SVGCuts files. I basically know what cuts belong to each collection from that store, so now moving on to different company files (and knowing that I can use them) felt weird.

Anyway, I just took those adorable bundled up babies from the Peek-a-Boo Collection and made some simple cards with them. I just cut out a flip image of the baby shadow and scored the top of the bottom cardstock and glued them at the top.

Here it is! and see how many I made! I'm safe to not make baby cards for few more baby occasions! LOL!

It's a simple card, but LD files are so cute on its own!
Here's the boy baby ones...

and the girl baby ones... lots huh?The only thing that bugs me is the eyes. I know how perfect a Silhouette can cut according to Jin (Under A Cherry Tree), so now I want it just so I can cut eyes! LOL!

Anyway, that's it for today! It's very easy cards, but thought it was cute, so I decided to share!

Oh, make sure if you have any pretty things that you'd like to share - go to the Paper Dolls blog - we're having a linky party (only for another 8 hours)! (share any project using any SVG file!)

Monday, May 23, 2011

We are just so overwhelmed by the number of fans that "liked" us in the first 5 days of our launch! We're extremely excited about our new venture, Paper Dolls, and it's great to know that you all are, too! We've got soo much stuff lined up, it's crazy! Thank you to everyone that has shown support in the opening week!

Our blog is finally done! We just need to add some pics of us, and then it's good to go! Tamara has done an awesome job designing the blog and doesn't it just look so inviting??? Feel free to put up our blog badge on your blog (you can grab in on our blog)- we'd really appreciate that! While you're there, check out all the fun badges that Tamara also made for being a featured artist, guest designer, challenge winners, etc! Isn't it pretty? Would you love to put one or even two of those up on your blog???

I've been busy trying to contact different sponsors, artists, designers and sign up for affiliate programs. It's been such a fun experience getting to know various SVG artists (from around the world!) and to also be in contact with many crafters wanting to be a guest designer on our site.

This Friday, we'll be having our first Friday Featured Artist. These artists can be featured on numerous occasions as they make new products! If you would like to be featured, please contact us at contactpaperdolls@gmail.com.

Then, we are kicking off our first challenge next Monday with a SVG freebie! We've seen it and you're going to love it!

So... for us to get the turnout that we'd like for the first challenge, we're going to have a Facebook referral contest! We're aiming for 500 "likes" on Facebook - so start sharing your love for us! Post our linky on your blog, spread the word through Facebook... (you can grab the linky on our blog) Once we get to 500 followers, we'll draw a random winner and if it's YOU, you'll win a $20 Gift Card to the craft store of YOUR choice. Can't get much better than that!

Okay, gotta busy day ahead - my parents are coming home from Japan and they're bringing home the Copics that I just ordered! Sooo excited! Have a great day everyone!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Okay, wow, it's been pretty busy since our launch of the Paper Dolls. (For those of you that don't know about it, I'll introduce to you at the end of this post). I've been getting tons of e-mails, and getting to know so many designers and their sites, and wow - I've already had such an amazing experience. It's all coming along and we're launching the blog next week, along with our first SVG challenge! (don't know if that's coming on the same day yet!) I am so happy to see all the comments on our Paper Dolls FB page about how excited they are about Tamara and I doing this! Just imagine - if you are that excited, how excited we are!!! That's all we think about day and night! Thank you so much for everyone's support! We've got lots of fun lined up, so stay tuned!!!

Anyway, back to my post here... oh, the layout! Okay, this is the last of my layout series that I did using SVG Cuts files... I aimed for contemporary modern kinda style for the birthday page.

- Embossing folders used: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots, Argyle, Candycane Stripes, Ohmycrafts exclusive, and Quickutz Retro Squares.
If anyone again is interested in the actual files used and its sizes, leave a comment here, and I'll send you the Excel file over to ya!

I had so much fun creating these pages. It is important to stick to the same style throughout, the color combo you chose and pick out some embellishements to use on the page (don't choose too much as it can get busy!) Lay them out, make sure that the page balances well before glueing them down.

I hope that I have inspired you to attempt to create some beautiful keepsake pages with the precious photos that you own.

Now, back to the Paper Dolls.... In case you missed it, it's a new blog that Tamara from Happy Life, Crafty Wife and I are starting together! If you loved us, you'll going to love this site even more! It's an SVG challenge blog and we'll feature different SVG artists, have special featured guests, news/trends on SVG/third-party software, giveaways and anything cool that you may want to see. We are open to ideas and suggestions, so please send them to Contactpaperdolls@gmail.com.

If you are interested in being featured in our new blog as a featured guest, or if you are an SVG designer, or interested in sponsorsing a challenge - we need all of you! Please contact us at the e-mail above! The more response we have, the more fun we'll have!

We are currently working on the blog, and if you're interested, this is what it looks like right now! http://paperdollsblog.typepad.com/main/ We have our blog linky and the NetworkedBlogs set up, so please come and check us out!

Thanks everyone and the doll party is about to begin!

(Oh, and for those that are wondering if I am going to still do my posts here, yes, I will - maybe not as much, but I will try, so don't forget about me here :) )

Thursday, May 19, 2011

I'd like to announce my next venture to you all - it's the Paper Dolls! It's not just an ordinary blog, but it's a place where you can share your ideas and projects using SVGs by entering in challenges, link up your blog at the linking party, find all cool places to get your SVGs, there's going to be featured bloggers and designers and catch up on any current trends and news pertaining to the third-party software!

What's more exciting than this, is that I'm collaborating with Tamara from Happy Life, Crafty Wife. I've met her through SVGCuts Design Team, along with two other super crafty girls Cheryl and Amy. I've had the pleasure to get to know Tamara quite well, probably because she also stays home and we're on Facebook all day and stays up really late! LOL! We have stepped down from their Design Team for different reasons, but little did I know, how much we'd keep in touch, and both felt strongly about wanting to do something amazing together. She's super-talented - if you don't know her by now, you're missing out! She can create - and what I mean is that she's superb at not only papercrafting, but she can also sew, bake, take awesome pics and make anything look good :) She's very nice and she's totally a doll!

So... we are working on the blog right now, but we were too excited about this, we just had to let the dolls out!!!

Do you like our logo??? Isn't it cute?? This is Tamara's artwork - isn't it amazing?

Some of the things that will be happening at Paper Dolls is:
- Bi-weekly challenges (will be weekly once we get more followers). These challenges will have prizes such as, SVG file collections, gift cards, paper packs, etc.
- Guest designers! We will be featuring talented SVG users and their projects!
- Guest authors and interviews with SVG designers/companies.
- Tips and tricks using SVG files and popular cutting software.
- Blog linkup parties!
- Giveaway's
- AND MORE!

Our blog is still in the works and we hope to have it ready in the next week! Until then, please 'Like' us on Facebook! The Paper Dolls. And SHARE! Share with your crafty friends, post it on your blog, etc. We'd love to get together as many followers as possible when our blog kicks off!

DESIGNERS - We need YOU!
Are you an SVG file designer and are interesed in being featured and/or offering your files or giftcards to you shop for prizes? Email us at contactpaperdolls@gmail.com with your name, Facebook page (if applicable) and a link to your blog and/or store. Between Facebook and our blogs, Tamara and I have over 1000 followers! This number grows daily and will get your designs more exposure!

GUEST POSTERS - Do YOU love to work with SVG files?
For our bi-weekly challenges, we will be having a guest poster or two join us! Tamara and I will be creating projects for inspiration to our readers, and you can too! We will share your project(s) and link your blog. If this is something you might be interested in, please contact us at contactpaperdolls@gmail.com and include your name, Facebook page (if applicable) and a link to your blog. If you do not have a blog and would still like to be a guest designer, that is fine!

PRIZES - Would YOU like to offer your product for a prize in one of our challenges?

Then you know what to do! :) Email us at contactpaperdolls@gmail.com with your name, store/blog link and what you would like to offer as a prize. It can be anything from SVG files, giftcards to your store, twine, ribbon, stamps, digital downloads, etc.!

We'll keep you posted about any news and when the blog is open to the public on the Facebook page! SO, for now, please "like" us!!! The blog is lookin' really cute, and can't wait to share!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Hello once again! I'm excited to share my second layout with you all! The other day, I shared my "shabby chic" style baby layout - and I hope that you liked it! This one, I attempted to go with the "elegant" and "sophisticated" style. It's totally fun trying out different styles!

I added rhinestones to the arch - made it so pretty!

This 3D flower is my all time fave flower to make!

Heart pennants strung on a white paper twine!

Another view...

So yes, this is the actual date of our wedding. I just didn't want to share my cheezy posed wedding pics with you guys! LOL!

Design Tips:
- I kept the papers to all metallic/shimmer paper to achieve elegance.
- Rhinestones and pearls were added to give the wedding feel.
- Keep the colors clean and simple.
- Embossing folders used: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots, Sizzix Textured Impressions Flowers, Hearts and Curlique.
- I cut the arch twice, but cut the hearts out of one and used to decorate the base.
- Wedding info was printed on a vellum on the computer and cut with Cricut.
- I used "The Luxury Stack" from DCWV as my background paper.

If you would like to have specific details on what SVG files were used and its sizes, just leave a message, and I'll send the Excel file right over to you!
I hope that you like this one, and I have one more layout to share after this!

It's was another one of those days, where I didn't want to pull out the Cricut and load the mats... Sometimes I don't like listening to the sound of the machine cutting and loading and beeping at me.. I wonder if it's just me, or if anyone else goes through this! LOL!

Anyway, I had this super pretty paper from Echo Park - Sweet Summertime pinwheel paper and I decided to just make simple pinwheels by cutting an inch square from double sided cardstock, and cutting 4 diagonal slits in it, fold the flaps and glue it down and adding a button on top. Super easy, and that's right - no Cricut involved. But I love how pretty and cheerful these cards came out.

The "may your dreams come true" stamp is from ditto G, and "congrats, you did it!" is from Papertrey ink.

Sorry this post is short, but it's getting really late and I still have to make my hubby and my kids' lunch! I've got to set my priorites straight...

Anyway, one more thing I made yesterday is a diaper card - a super cute template I found at My Grafico Sweet Baby SVG. I just matched the diaper with the gift that I was giving to a friend that just had a baby, and I love how it turned out!

Oh, and one more thing... the official announcement for the new SVGCuts DT members were announced yesterday. I would like to congratulate Kristin and Fleurette. They are both amazing, and very talented artists. I remember both of them making their debut at SVGCuts, and I was super impressed. I can't wait to see what beautiful things these girls are going to create!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

A little while ago, I had posted a question on my FB page asking my followers what they would like to see as my next project from me. Many of you suggested scrapbook layouts... a baby and a birthday one, specifically... so that's what I did! And.... I even did a wedding one! Thanks for your suggestion :)

This was another project that I had made for SVGCuts - so I'll show them to you now! But, just to make it more fun, and to lengthen the excitement - I'm only going to show you one at a time!

This part is what I had written intended for SVGCuts blog:
I admire the look of having your memorable pictures laid out artistically on a page, surrounded by beautiful embellishments. Unfortunately, I don't do much scrapbooking, but this time, I challenged myself to work "outside" my comfort zone, and created layouts for 3 special occasions: baby, wedding and birthday. I also tried to create these pages in different styles: shabby chic, elegant, and contemporary modern, respectively.

So.... today, I'm going to show you the baby layout! Here it is!

Sorry, there's no pic :) I need to find that perfect picture.....

This is actually my daughter's info <3

The paper buttons were tied with jute twine and pink twine.

I love the doily and the paper lace behind all the elements - I find that they add so much to the layout!

The white rounded circles around the border is from i-rock. I love that stuff!

Again, if you are really interested in making the same page, just leave a comment here with your e-mail, and I'll send the Excel file with the SVG file info right over to you!

Design Tips:

- To achieve the simpleness of the page, limit yourself to using a few colors. Here, I chose white, various pinks, grey and kraft brown.
- Adding twine and lace textures add to the softness of the baby.
- Inking the edges will also give softness to the page.
- Doilies are pretty and perfect as space filler.
- Heart from Nora's frame was cut, but covered with buttons. The heart was used as a separate embellishment on the page.
- You do not need to fill the page. Cut all your elements first, and lay out on the page to make sure it balances before adhering them down.
- Embossing folders used: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots, Spots and Dots, and Argyle.
- Birth info was printed out on the computer and cut with Cricut.

1. Cut out all parts necessary for a house, and emboss any trim/smaller pieces desired.
2. Assemble the gable box. I used Quick-Dry Adhesive to hold the box together, and used foam tape for the porch.svg and the stairs.svg.
3. Cut out 20 pennants (emboss some if plain cardstock), and I used a small hole punch to enlarge the holes on the pennant, allowing enough space to fit through twine.
4. Cut 3 pieces of twine in these lengths: two of 4.25" and 11.5". Thread pennants through the two shorter twine, and thread pennants through the longer one.
5. Adhere the short pieces of twine on the top of the supporting posts on the porch.svg (as per picture) by heat glue gun. Adhere the longer twine from one side of the house to another at the top of siding.svg. Take the middle of the pennant (there should be 6 pennants on both sides) and glue the middle of the twine to the middle top of the siding.svg. Tie ribbons from twine and attach it to the ends of the pennants.
6. Cut all the dinosaurs, and emboss. Adhere all the parts together (and I used foam dots to bring out the gift on the T Rex with gift 1, and the leg on the T Rex with Balloon). Attach googly eyes.
7. Attach two foam tape on top of each other behind the dinos (make it double layered to bring out more dimension) and adhere them to the bag.
8. Cut balloons. Wrap pieces of wire around a pen to give a nice swirl and adhere to the back of the balloon using heat gun. Then adhere the balloon to the house using foam dots.
9. You can also use a stamp to make a little sign on the door and make it look like it's hung with a twine, as well as tying a bow on the top flaps of the box.

Of couse, some design tips:

* Stay with your color combination, as using many colors can make the project look too busy.
* I inked the edges of the dinos to bring them out from the rest of the house.
* Using different patterned paper will create the mood of the house you're trying to achieve. It would be fun to make a house using various patterned papers: brick, wood grained, stacked stones.

This house can be customized for any occasions or holidays. It would be fun to make it into a haunted mansion for Hallowe'en (such as adding spider webs on the windows or a witch coming out from the door), a Christmas house (I would add a string of Christmas lights on the house with a Christmas tree behind the window and a wreath on the door). This bag is like a gift on its own, and will most definitely be appreciated by the recipient.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

It is with mixed feelings that I have decided to resign from the SVGCuts Design Team this evening. I have enjoyed my time being a part of this exciting, growing company and have made numerous friends. I loved working with their wonderful SVG files and creating something beautiful to share it with you.

However, I have decided to step away, and enjoy more time with my family (I think that I've neglected my husband way too much! LOL!) and when I do have time to craft, I want to focus more on making something special for my kids', especially for their birthdays or making crafts with kids :) I also have many things that I would love to learn - photography, sewing, baking, working with digital images, and now Copic markers (which I just ordered!) I will be able to have more time to concentrate on areas that I want to pursue.

Thank you so much for supporting me for the past 10 months as an SVGCuts DT member. It was an amazing opportunity, and I wish Leo and Mary all the best, and I hope that you continue to follow my crafting through my blog and my Facebook page. I will still try to use SVGCuts files, along with others that I may find along the way, and will hope to remain good friends with you all :)

Thanks again, and good luck to the new SVGCuts Design Team member (I am assuming that there will be one :)

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

I just put together a really simple card using the Cheryl's Sweet Treats mini SVG collection and just wanted to share it. I made a base for the glass as a rounded shadow to support the card, and made an ice cream insert with the message, Happy Birthday. I also stacked the 2 more ice cream on top of the bottom one to make it even a better sundae - just the way I like it! Anyway, here it is:

The stamps are all from Papertrey Ink - Birthday Basics and Signature Series: Cupcake.
This is mini collection is for free right now from SVGCuts. Take a look at all other cuteness in this collection - a bird, a cupcake, a cherry, a flower and a banner.... wow - so much you can do with this!

This collection is also the basis for the challenge this month at the SVGCuts forum. Using one or more of the elements above, create something wonderful to share, and you could be one of 3 winners! For more details, click here.

Amazing cutter.

Fun digital/cutting files!

Miss Tiina.

My Grafico.

Just a little bit 'bout me.

Well... HELLO! Thank you for stopping by!
I reside in Calgary, AB (Canada) with 3 kids (10, 6 and 4)and a hubby. They keep me busy), REALLY BUSY! But, if I'm lucky - I do sneak away and get some crafting time in! Otherwise, my paper magic happens during the night :)
Feel free to leave me your love here, and feel welcome to use any of my original ideas for your personal use. All I ask is that you give credit appropriately and that you don't copy or re-create any of the artwork posted on here for submissions to contests, publications or for profit. Please link to this blog for any projects/ideas inspired by me. I hope to get to know all of you, and inspire many creative people out there.
Thanks:)